Monthly Archives: March 2015

Subscription boxes are hot. And why wouldn’t they be? It’s so much fun to go to the mailbox and find a little box of surprise goodies rather than the usual stack of bills and junk mail. If you’ve never explored the world of subscription boxes, you might be surprised to find what you can have delivered to your doorstep — socks, gourmet dog treats, barbecue sauces, makeup, craft supplies, shaving products, you name it. They’re convenient and fun, but not all of them are healthy (monthly box o’ cookies, anyone?). That’s why we were excited to try a Good Habit Box, a brand-new Atlanta-based subscription service that delivers single-serving snacks, teas, protein shakes, and breakfast foods for busy people. As an added bonus, Good Habit donates one meal to a child in need for every box purchased.What’s in the box?! >>

With swimsuit season just around the corner and gorgeous weather to enjoy while you work out, it’s the perfect time to turn up the intensity. This trainer-created Workout of the Week is a 15-minute HIIT that will get your heart pumping and the sweat flowing. The only equipment you’ll need is a timer (grab an app for your phone unless you’ve got an old-school stopwatch sitting around). Grab a friend and push each other harder, or do it on your own when you have a few minutes to spare.

From gorgeous blooms at the Atlanta Botanical Garden to the 10th annual Big Peach 5K for Blood Cancer to a yoga class for you and your sweetie (complete with wine and chocolate!), this week’s Atlanta health and wellness events are guaranteed to bring a smile to your face and a pep to your step.

I’m at a weird point where I am noticing differences in my body, energy levels, and general happiness, but those around me don’t see it yet. While it is humbling that people see it as “normal Kathleen,” it just reaffirms that I am making these changes for myself. If someone notices, it is a fringe benefit… but deep down, I still want them to say, “Oh wow!” just like I did when I put on an old dress that fits again.

If you’re a regular WellATL reader, you’ve almost certainly heard about FitWit, the award-winning group fitness program run by WellATL’s publisher, Josh Guerrieri. But what you might not have heard is that FitWit is just a few days away from opening a brand-new studio in Kirkwood. The new space and classes offered there represent the biggest shift FitWit has seen since its 2005 launch, so we asked Josh to give us the scoop on the new digs for this week’s Friday Five.

Here’s the thing they don’t tell you when you’re a kid: Adults never really have it all together. Remember the kid version of “being an adult”? You’ll have a totally cool job, make gobs of money and get to do fun things all the time. And, best of all, nobody tells you “no.” Ha! Now we all know the shocking reality: You were supposed to be in the car five minutes ago. Instead, you’ve just discovered a burst pipe is flooding the basement and where is the water shut off valve? If you’ve got children, one is whining and the other is in the backyard picking up dog poop with his bare hands. Your phone is incessantly binging, a constant low-level reminder that you’re missing emails and texts, and there’s a good chance you’ll never catch up and read them all. The voice of the little boy from that David after dentist video, repeatedly asking, “Is this real life?” Oh yeah, kid. It’s real life and current coping mechanisms include snapping at the people who love you most, second guessing yourself on a daily basis, minor-to-major meltdowns, and eating/drinking everything in sight.Our experiences and how to try it yourself… >>

Ever have one of those spells where it feels like you just can’t prepare a meal that will make everyone happy? Lately, one of us in particular — not saying any names because I don’t want to throw my only son under the bus (but this phase better end soon!) — has been complaining a lot: “Just to tell you mom…this isn’t my favorite.” So, while the kid is polite, it would be nice to hear a positive comment once in awhile. Last night, I was successful. He tasted these meatballs and said, “These are amazing! Even better than IKEA meatballs!” Wait… what?! So apparently he had a sample meatball when the family went to IKEA this weekend while I was working. I’m not sure that is a compliment, but I’ll take it because everyone was happy last night, me included. These are definitely a new staple for us. Lots of flavor, but no crazy spices that might offend one of your more picky eaters. I have to admit, I’ve never had “Swedish meatballs” so the flavor might not be 100 percent authentic, but they were still really good! I mainly called them “Swedish meatballs” because of Tate’s IKEA point of reference.

Like pretty much every mixed martial artist, Johan DeLeeuw is intimidating — and for good reason. Born and raised in the Netherlands, he trained from the age of 12 at the renowned Mejiro Gym in Amsterdam, the birthplace of Dutch kickboxing the home gym of multiple world champion fighters. At age 21, DeLeeuw came to Atlanta and now coaches at Team Octopus, an Atlanta MMA and fitness academy where he says, despite the intimidating reputation of MMA, anyone can come to build strength and skills (yes, even you). “You’ll find something you like by trying out different things,” he says. “We welcome anyone who wants to train with our fighters! Every time I teach someone, I learn something too.” For today’s Trainer Talk, we asked DeLeeuw about his pre- and post-workout meals, go-to workout, and coaching philosophy.Here’s what he had to say >>

What happens when you gather some of Atlanta’s leading fitness instructors and wellness experts in one place? Wigwam Wellness Festival! Stretching over four Sundays (April 12, 19, 26, and May 3) at the Chattahoochee Nature Center, participants can take their pick from more than 100 classes and workshops ranging from “Boombox Yoga” and “Be Your Brighter Self” all the way to “Ancient Mayan Traditions and the Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate” (we hope that one comes with samples). A discounted early bird series pass for all four weekends will run you $225, or $79 for a single day. Discount pricing for the series pass or the April 12 session ends today (March 23).

If variety really is the spice of life, Atlanta is having a very spicy week indeed. This week’s event picks include the Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival, an urban coop tour, the Morningside Mile, the 10th annual Georgia Rides to the Capitol, and lots more. There’s bound to be something you’ll love. Have fun!